Multi-sample fraction collector by electrophoresis

Abstract

The fraction collector according to the present invention comprises a separating means composed of electrophoresis tracks to separate samples by electrophoresis, and a transferring means to transfer the separated components eluted from said electrophoresis tracks, a transferring means which comprises the capillary sample transferring tubes which are placed with their ends close to the ends of said electrophoresis tracks at the specified gap, and which transfers the separated components eluted from each electrophoresis track, a transport means to supply the buffer solution to said gap and to carry said separated component to said sample transferring tube by sheathflow of said buffer solution, a fractionating means to fractionate the separated components having moved inside said sample transfer tube, a detecting means to detect the elution of said separated component by detecting the light emitted from said separated component, and a control means to control said fractionating means based on the signal gained by said detecting means; thereby fractionating the separated components having moved inside said sample transfer tube, based on the signal gained by said detecting means.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fraction collector comprising: a separating means composed of electrophoresis tracks to separate samples by electrophoresis,   a transferring means to transfer separated components eluted from said electrophoresis tracks, said transferring means comprising capillary sample transferring tubes which are placed with their ends close to the ends of said electrophoresis tracks at a specified gap,   a transport means to supply buffer solution to said gap and to carry said separated components into said sample transferring tube by sheathflow of said buffer solution,   a fractionating means to fractionate said separated component having moved inside each of said sample transferring tube,   a detecting means to detect elution of said separated component by detecting light emitted from said separated component at the gap, and   a control means to control said fractionating means based on a signal gained by said detecting means.   
     
     
       2. A fraction collector according to claim 1 wherein said separating means comprises electrophoresis tracks formed on the electrophoresis plate using a slab gel. 
     
     
       3. A fraction collector according to claim 1 wherein said separating means comprises capillary gel electrophoresis tubes. 
     
     
       4. A fraction collector according to claim 1 wherein said samples are labeled with fluorophore, said gaps are provided with a light source to irradiate excitation light, and said detecting means is an optical detector to detect fluorescence emitted from said separated components in response to the excitation light. 
     
     
       5. A fraction collector according to claim 4 wherein said fractionating means includes sampling bottle supports which are movably placed with their ends close to the ends of said sample transferring tubes, said sampling bottle supports being provided with multiple sampling bottles, said control means comprises a sampling bottle support control means to control the transfer device to move sampling bottle supports, and said sampling bottle support control means controls said transfer device based on the signal output from said optical detector to fractionate the separated components into the specified sampling bottles. 
     
     
       6. A fraction collector according to claim 5 wherein said sampling bottle support control means controls said transfer device in a specified time after having detected the fluorescence based on the signal output from said optical detector. 
     
     
       7. A fraction collector according to claim 6 wherein said specified time is shorter than the time from when said separated components are exposed to the excitation light until they move to said sampling bottle supports by passing through said sample transferring tubes. 
     
     
       8. A fraction collector according to claim 6 wherein said specified time is shorter than the time from when the specified substances are electrophoresed in said electrophoresis tracks before separation and fractionation of said sample, until said substances move to said sampling bottle support from the site where said excitation light in said gaps is irradiated. 
     
     
       9. A fraction collector according to claim 1 wherein said gaps are arranged in a linear form. 
     
     
       10. A fraction collector according to claim 9 wherein said samples are labeled with fluorophore, and the light source to irradiate said gaps is further provided. 
     
     
       11. A fraction collector according to claim 5 wherein said samples are classified into multiple groups which are labeled with fluorophores which are different for each group and wherein said sampling bottle support control means controls said transfer device based on the difference of fluorescence intensities emitted by said different fluorophores detected by said optical detector. 
     
     
       12. A fraction collector according to claim 1 wherein the ends of said electrophoresis tracks and those of said sample transferring tubes are connected to the solution vessel where said buffer solution enters. 
     
     
       13. A fraction collector comprising: an electrophoresis means to separate fluorophore-labeled samples by electrophoresis,   a light source to excite said fluorophore to cause fluorescence to be emitted,   a light detecting means for detecting said fluorescence,   a fractionating means to fractionate the samples separated by electrophoresis, and   a control means to control said fractionating means, based on the detection signal gained from said optical detector.   
     
     
       14. A fraction collector according to claim 13 wherein said electrophoresis means is provided with electrophoresis tracks, and, furthermore, comprises; a transfer means which transfers separated components eluted from said electrophoresis tracks and which is composed of capillary sample transferring tubes with their ends placed close to the ends of said electrophoresis tracks at specified gaps, a transport means to supply the buffer solution to said gaps and to carry said separated component to said sample transferring tube by sheathflow of said buffer solution, and sampling bottle supports which are movably placed with other ends said sample transferring tubes, said sampling bottle supports being provided with multiple sampling bottle, and wherein said control means comprises a sampling bottle control means to control the transfer means to transfer the sampling bottle supports, and, said sampling bottle support control means controls the said transfer device based on the signal output from said optical detector, thereby fractionating said separated components and putting them into the specified sampling bottle.   
     
     
       15. A fraction collector comprising; a separating means composed of a single electrophoresis track to separate samples by electrophoresis,   a transfer means which transfers a separated component eluted from said electrophoresis track and which is composed of a single capillary sample transferring tube with its end placed close to the end of said electrophoresis track at a specified gap,   a transport means to supply the buffer solution to said gap and to carry said separated component to said sample transferring tube by sheathflow of said buffer solution,   a fractionating means to fractionate the separated components having moved inside said sample transfer tube,   a detecting means to detect the elution of said separated component by detecting the light emitted from said separated component, and   a control means to control said fractionating means based on a signal gained by said detecting means.